By James Pearson

The Philadelphia 76ers were one of the few NBA teams who were active during the 2015 Trade Deadline. Therefore, it is no surprise that the 76ers were listening to trade offers because the team hasn’t performed up to high standards in recent years.

But it came as a shock when the 76ers traded away former first round pick and 2014 NBA Rookie of the Year point guard Michael Carter-Williams to the Milwaukee Bucks for the Los Angeles Lakers’ protected top five pick in this year’s draft.

“I can’t lie,” tweeted Carter-Williams after hearing about the trade to Milwaukee. “I’m shocked. I love this city thank you for everything. I can honestly say I gave it my all. I wish Philly nothing but the best,” I know the 76ers have been in a rebuilding period for the last couple of years but when it comes to trading away a player that was drafted high in the previous year for draft picks it’s difficult for fans to observe.

76ers General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Sam Hinkie said during a press conference Feb. 20, “the focus is on finding greatness.” But this is not first time that the 76ers traded away a point guard that was a fan favorite player.

In July 2013, the team dealt All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday to the New Orleans

Pelicans for current 76ers center Nerlens Noel and the rights to forward Dario Saric who’s playing in the Euroleague now.

“Sometimes you know exactly what you knew before. Sometimes the world changed and you know a lot more than you did,” said Hinkie when talking about Carter-Williams in a recent press conference.

As I follow the 76ers I want to see them continue to improve and build for the future but how long will fans have to endure losing seasons before the team advances further.

To say that stock-piling draft picks to help enhance a team’s productivity for a basketball organization is yet to be seen. Still, I wonder will the process continue to repeat itself and the 76ers trade away more players they developed for high draft picks.

Let’s face reality: the 76ers have a plan in place that goes beyond two or three years but I’m anxiously waiting for that day to finally come.

“We’re all focused on the same thing: How do we build something really special that can win at the highest level,” said

Hinkie in the same press conference.